Lap Band Article Abstract (#6) READ THIS ONE!

[Guest guest]

De EJ, Sugerman HJ, Meador JG, et al.

High failure rate after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric

banding for treatment of morbid obesity.

Ann Surg (United States), Jun 2001, 233(6) p809-18

OBJECTIVE: To report the results from one of the eight original U.S.

centers performing laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding

(LASGB), a new minimally invasive surgical technique for treatment of

morbid obesity. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Laparoscopic adjustable

silicone gastric banding is under evaluation by the Food & Drug

Administration in the United States in an initial cohort of 300

patients. METHODS: Of 37 patients undergoing laparoscopic placement

of the LASGB device, successful placement occurred in 36 from March

1996 to May 1998. Patients have been followed up for up to 4 years.

RESULTS: Five patients (14%) have been lost to follow-up for more

than 2 years but at last available follow-up (3-18 months after

surgery) had achieved only 18% (range 5-38%) excess weight loss.

African American patients had poor weight loss after LASGB compared

with whites. The LASGB devices were removed in 15 (41%) patients 10

days to 42 months after surgery. Four patients underwent simple

removal; 11 were converted to gastric bypass. The most common reason

for removal was inadequate weight loss in the presence of a

functioning band. The primary reasons for removal in others were

infection, leakage from the inflatable silicone ring causing

inadequate weight loss, or band slippage. The patients with band

slippage had concomitant poor weight loss. Bands were removed in two

others as a result of symptoms related to esophageal dilatation. In

18 of 25 patients (71%) who underwent preoperative and long-term

postoperative contrast evaluation, a significantly increased

esophageal diameter developed; of these, 13 (72%) had prominent

dysphagia, vomiting, or reflux symptoms. Of the remaining 21 patients

with bands, 8 currently desire removal and conversion to gastric

bypass for inadequate weight loss. Six of the remaining patients have

persistent morbid obesity at least 2 years after surgery but refuse

to undergo further surgery or claim to be satisfied with the results.

Overall, only four patients achieved a body-mass index of less than

35 and/or at least a 50% reduction in excess weight. Thus, the

overall need for band removal and conversion to GBP in this series

will ultimately exceed 50%. CONCLUSIONS: The authors did not find

LASGB to be an effective procedure for the surgical treatment of

morbid obesity. Complications after LASGB include esophageal

dilatation, band leakage, infection, erosion, and slippage.

Inadequate weight loss is common, particularly in African American

patients. More study is required to determine the long-term efficacy

of the LASGB.

[Guest guest]

> Interesting again to see this on a DS list....suppose anyone will report

> that the FDA carefully evaluated this data, rejected it as being an anomoly

> from one site due to POOR SURGICAL TECHNIQUE early in the trial and pretty

> much yawned through it? Nah! Why let facts get in the way of bashing a

> procedure that's helped thousands of folks all over the world....!

Interesting to see YOU on THIS list....if the crap Lap Band is the surgery

you support. Or do you simply cruise all WLS lists, trolling for " clients " ?

Michele B.

[Guest guest]

Yes there is always Spain, but some may be intimidated at the prospect of being layed out in a hospital half-way around the world. Imagine if major complications occcur - not a pretty picture.

Yes..that is the ONE FEAR I have...We all have choices to make and none of us have the right to say someone is making the wrong choice for themselves...they have to know thier own priorities and limitations.

~~* AJ *~~

BMI 59

Surgery date 7/24/01

going self pay - Dr Baltasar Spain

Check out the

Bellingham Support for WLS

WWW.lookin2bthin.homestead.com

[Guest guest]

> Go easy on Walter. He is are advocate for all of us.

Then it would seem to me that his time would be better spent on a Bandsters

list, trolling there instead of here. His posts sound almost like he's

recruiting...and why? There are post-ops here who have already been revised

from the Band of Torture to BPD/DS. Post-ops who know the real story. Let's

not forget what they've been through also, okay?

Michele B.

[Guest guest]

> Why let those facts get in her way when she can spend her

> time insulting me?

Could be because I know more about you, than most people here.

Michele B.

[Guest guest]

> Why let those facts get in her way when she can spend her

> time insulting me?

Could be because I know more about you, than most people here.

The list is not the place for this personal attack stuff. Take it offlist...I am not here to debate the good or bad of someone due to their profession. I have no problem with anyone on this list and no interest in reading this garbage. I'm here to support, and learn about WLS related information.

~~* AJ *~~

BMI 59

Surgery date 7/24/01

going self pay - Dr Baltasar Spain

Check out the

Bellingham Support for WLS

WWW.lookin2bthin.homestead.com

[Guest guest]

Interesting again to see this on a DS list....suppose anyone will report

that the FDA carefully evaluated this data, rejected it as being an anomoly

from one site due to POOR SURGICAL TECHNIQUE early in the trial and pretty

much yawned through it? Nah! Why let facts get in the way of bashing a

procedure that's helped thousands of folks all over the world....!

Walter Lindstrom, Jr., Esquire

Obesity Law & Advocacy Center

www.obesitylaw.com

2939 Alta View Drive, Suite O-360

San Diego, CA 92139

Tel:

Fax:

Lap Band Article Abstract (#6) READ THIS ONE!

> De EJ, Sugerman HJ, Meador JG, et al.

> High failure rate after laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric

> banding for treatment of morbid obesity.

> Ann Surg (United States), Jun 2001, 233(6) p809-18

>

>

>

> OBJECTIVE: To report the results from one of the eight original U.S.

> centers performing laparoscopic adjustable silicone gastric banding

> (LASGB), a new minimally invasive surgical technique for treatment of

> morbid obesity. SUMMARY BACKGROUND DATA: Laparoscopic adjustable

> silicone gastric banding is under evaluation by the Food & Drug

> Administration in the United States in an initial cohort of 300

> patients. METHODS: Of 37 patients undergoing laparoscopic placement

> of the LASGB device, successful placement occurred in 36 from March

> 1996 to May 1998. Patients have been followed up for up to 4 years.

> RESULTS: Five patients (14%) have been lost to follow-up for more

> than 2 years but at last available follow-up (3-18 months after

> surgery) had achieved only 18% (range 5-38%) excess weight loss.

> African American patients had poor weight loss after LASGB compared

> with whites. The LASGB devices were removed in 15 (41%) patients 10

> days to 42 months after surgery. Four patients underwent simple

> removal; 11 were converted to gastric bypass. The most common reason

> for removal was inadequate weight loss in the presence of a

> functioning band. The primary reasons for removal in others were

> infection, leakage from the inflatable silicone ring causing

> inadequate weight loss, or band slippage. The patients with band

> slippage had concomitant poor weight loss. Bands were removed in two

> others as a result of symptoms related to esophageal dilatation. In

> 18 of 25 patients (71%) who underwent preoperative and long-term

> postoperative contrast evaluation, a significantly increased

> esophageal diameter developed; of these, 13 (72%) had prominent

> dysphagia, vomiting, or reflux symptoms. Of the remaining 21 patients

> with bands, 8 currently desire removal and conversion to gastric

> bypass for inadequate weight loss. Six of the remaining patients have

> persistent morbid obesity at least 2 years after surgery but refuse

> to undergo further surgery or claim to be satisfied with the results.

> Overall, only four patients achieved a body-mass index of less than

> 35 and/or at least a 50% reduction in excess weight. Thus, the

> overall need for band removal and conversion to GBP in this series

> will ultimately exceed 50%. CONCLUSIONS: The authors did not find

> LASGB to be an effective procedure for the surgical treatment of

> morbid obesity. Complications after LASGB include esophageal

> dilatation, band leakage, infection, erosion, and slippage.

> Inadequate weight loss is common, particularly in African American

> patients. More study is required to determine the long-term efficacy

> of the LASGB.

>

>

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

> Interesting again to see this on a DS list....suppose anyone

> will report that the FDA carefully evaluated this data, rejected

> it as being an anomoly from one site due to POOR SURGICAL

> TECHNIQUE early in the trial and pretty much yawned through it?

> Nah! Why let facts get in the way of bashing a procedure that's

> helped thousands of folks all over the world....!

> Walter Lindstrom, Jr., Esquire

> Obesity Law & Advocacy Center

> www.obesitylaw.com

> 2939 Alta View Drive, Suite O-360

> San Diego, CA 92139

> Tel:

> Fax:

Walter, I didn't see any commentary remotely resembling your assumption.

All I saw was a wholesale copy, without comment, of an AGB abstract. Am

I missing something?

M.

---

in Valrico, FL, age 38

Starting weight 299, now 156

Starting BMI 49.7, now 26.0

Lap DGB/DS by Dr. Rabkin 10-19-99

http://www.duodenalswitch.com

Direct replies: mailto:melanie@...

_________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

Hey Michele,

Go easy on Walter. He is are advocate for all of us. Besides, I

agree that we should not be bad-mouting other surguries. It is one

thing to explain why we choose BPD/DS over RNY or Lap-Band, but

another to simply denegrade the other procedures.

The Lap-Band is not my choice, BUT it is a valid procedure. Recovery

time is VERY short (esp. compared to DS), so it is ideal for those

who simply can get away from work for 4-6 weeks. My previous

position as an executive of a small company was like that. In my old

position, I wouldn't dream of leaving the company more than a couple

of weeks.

The Lap-Band is a significant improvement of the VBG because it is

very easily reversable. The ability to adjust w/o surgery is a real

plus. And, unlike the RNY procedure, the stomach is left intact.

Converting this procedure to thet DS would be MUCH easier than the

RNY if this proves infective.

For me the DS/BPD is the right choice. My new job gives me excellent

short-term disability benifits (compared with the normal California

benifit of $332 per week), and I don't have the degree of

responsibility I had with my old job. Not everyone is lucky enough

to be in this position. Here is San Diego, $332 per week would

scarcely cover the costs of a nice apartment.

In addition, those who cannot get approved by insurance and have

limitied resources might prefer the lower cost of the lap-band. Yes

there is always Spain, but some may be intimidated at the prospect of

being layed out in a hospital half-way around the world. Imagine if

major complications occcur - not a pretty picture.

We can be advocates of our procedure without putting down the

alternatives.

Hull

>

> > Interesting again to see this on a DS list....suppose anyone will

report

> > that the FDA carefully evaluated this data, rejected it as being

an anomoly

> > from one site due to POOR SURGICAL TECHNIQUE early in the trial

and pretty

> > much yawned through it? Nah! Why let facts get in the way of

bashing a

> > procedure that's helped thousands of folks all over the

world....!

>

> Interesting to see YOU on THIS list....if the crap Lap Band is the

surgery

> you support. Or do you simply cruise all WLS lists, trolling

for " clients " ?

> Michele B.

[Guest guest]

Thanks Chris....it's always easier for someone to just accuse me of

" trolling " for clients than trying to understand I want all people to have

the ability to make their own choices and some will never choose the DS, or

the Lap-Band, or the gastric bypass, or the VBG, or gastric pacing....etc.

etc. I suppose it would be irrelevant to that I'm representing

several patients seeking to fight this " DS is experimental " garbage or that

I'm working with most of the leading DS surgeons around the country (at no

cost to them or their patients), to try and turn around this critical

issue....nah! Why let those facts get in her way when she can spend her

time insulting me?

Walter Lindstrom, Jr., Esquire

Obesity Law & Advocacy Center

www.obesitylaw.com

2939 Alta View Drive, Suite O-360

San Diego, CA 92139

Tel:

Fax:

Re: Lap Band Article Abstract (#6) READ THIS ONE!

> Hey Michele,

>

> Go easy on Walter. He is are advocate for all of us. Besides, I

> agree that we should not be bad-mouting other surguries. It is one

> thing to explain why we choose BPD/DS over RNY or Lap-Band, but

> another to simply denegrade the other procedures.

>

> The Lap-Band is not my choice, BUT it is a valid procedure. Recovery

> time is VERY short (esp. compared to DS), so it is ideal for those

> who simply can get away from work for 4-6 weeks. My previous

> position as an executive of a small company was like that. In my old

> position, I wouldn't dream of leaving the company more than a couple

> of weeks.

>

> The Lap-Band is a significant improvement of the VBG because it is

> very easily reversable. The ability to adjust w/o surgery is a real

> plus. And, unlike the RNY procedure, the stomach is left intact.

> Converting this procedure to thet DS would be MUCH easier than the

> RNY if this proves infective.

>

> For me the DS/BPD is the right choice. My new job gives me excellent

> short-term disability benifits (compared with the normal California

> benifit of $332 per week), and I don't have the degree of

> responsibility I had with my old job. Not everyone is lucky enough

> to be in this position. Here is San Diego, $332 per week would

> scarcely cover the costs of a nice apartment.

>

> In addition, those who cannot get approved by insurance and have

> limitied resources might prefer the lower cost of the lap-band. Yes

> there is always Spain, but some may be intimidated at the prospect of

> being layed out in a hospital half-way around the world. Imagine if

> major complications occcur - not a pretty picture.

>

> We can be advocates of our procedure without putting down the

> alternatives.

>

> Hull

>

>

>

> >

> > > Interesting again to see this on a DS list....suppose anyone will

> report

> > > that the FDA carefully evaluated this data, rejected it as being

> an anomoly

> > > from one site due to POOR SURGICAL TECHNIQUE early in the trial

> and pretty

> > > much yawned through it? Nah! Why let facts get in the way of

> bashing a

> > > procedure that's helped thousands of folks all over the

> world....!

> >

> > Interesting to see YOU on THIS list....if the crap Lap Band is the

> surgery

> > you support. Or do you simply cruise all WLS lists, trolling

> for " clients " ?

> > Michele B.

>

>

> ----------------------------------------------------------------------

>

[Guest guest]

Michele-

Walter is an obesity surgery advocate.. I think he is just interested

in seeing correct data posted is all.. He has helped many here win

their insurance fights.

just my .02,

Liane

>

> > Interesting again to see this on a DS list....suppose anyone will

report

> > that the FDA carefully evaluated this data, rejected it as being

an anomoly

> > from one site due to POOR SURGICAL TECHNIQUE early in the trial

and pretty

> > much yawned through it? Nah! Why let facts get in the way of

bashing a

> > procedure that's helped thousands of folks all over the

world....!

>

> Interesting to see YOU on THIS list....if the crap Lap Band is the

surgery

> you support. Or do you simply cruise all WLS lists, trolling for

" clients " ?

> Michele B.

[Guest guest]

Walter, you are welcome here, and I hope you will keep us abreast of how

things progress with the BCBS deicions with regard to the DS, and how

the ASBS is dealing with things on their end.

M.

---

in Valrico, FL, age 38

Starting weight 299, now 156

Starting BMI 49.7, now 26.0

Lap DGB/DS by Dr. Rabkin 10-19-99

http://www.duodenalswitch.com

Direct replies: mailto:melanie@...

> Re: Re: Lap Band Article Abstract

> (#6) READ THIS ONE!

>

>

> Thanks Chris....it's always easier for someone to just accuse me

> of " trolling " for clients than trying to understand I want all

> people to have the ability to make their own choices and some

> will never choose the DS, or the Lap-Band, or the gastric bypass,

> or the VBG, or gastric pacing....etc. etc.

_________________________________________________________

[Guest guest]

I agree. He took he time to answer me back on a Saturday. Its great to have him to give advice.